Two people were arrested for looting in Brixton last night after disturbances at a street party to “celebrate” the death of Margaret Thatcher.

Riot squad officers and police dogs were deployed as hundreds of people gathered for the event which was promoted on Twitter and Facebook.

Scotland Yard said some missiles were thrown at police and a shop window was smashed in “despicable” scenes.

Two women were arrested on suspicion of burglary after being found inside a shop whose windows had been smashed.

The disturbances were condemned by politicians including Labour’s shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna, one of three MPs whose constituency covers Brixton.

He said: “Holding a party to celebrate the death of any person is totally wrong and in extreme bad taste — to do so in respect of Baroness Thatcher on the day of her death is utterly disgraceful.

“The people organising this dreadful event do not speak for or represent the people of Brixton, the overwhelming majority of whom will have nothing but sympathy for a family that has just lost a loved one.”

Alex Bigham, a Labour councillor, took to Twitter to brand it disgraceful while Lambeth Tory leader, John Whelan, said it was “despicable”.

They chanted “Ding Dong Thatcher’s Dead” and danced to a sound system attached to a bicycle.

One climbed onto the Ritzy cinema building and rearranged letters on its listings board to spell out: “Margaret Thatchers (sic) dead LOL”.

A Barnardo’s charity shop window was smashed and paint was thrown at a Foxtons estate agents. Anti-Thatcher graffiti was scrawled on walls, including a slogan saying: “You snatched my milk! & our hope.”

By midnight dozens of riot squad officers were deployed as a small number of missiles were thrown in an area which was the scene of fierce riots in 1981.

Around 500 people gathered at the height of the event with some claiming they were peacefully marking “an important moment in history”.

Maria Starrs, 28, an accountant from Streatham, said: “I’m feeling so excited. When she was in power I was living on an estate. She made the place where I grew up a misery.”

Organiser Xanthe Whitaker, 36, said: “People have been waiting for a long time for this. As soon as people thought she was going to die we decided that we should do something to celebrate.”

Squatter Christian Cordner, 24, from Northern Ireland said: “My family have been talking about this day for a long time. By being here today, I am living out a family dream.”

In the Easton area of Bristol, around 200 people gathered and six police officers were injured when bottles were thrown. One officer remained in hospital today and one person was arrested for violent disorder.

Around 200 to 300 people also gathered to “celebrate” in Glasgow’s George Square.